What happened to the Tax-Free giving

Many of you have been asking about the announcement we made late last year that donations would be exempt from taxation from the beginning of this year. In last year’s budget speech the Minister of Finance amended the income tax law to allow donations made to churches and charitable organizations to be exempt from taxation. This amended tax law would allow us to direct some of what would otherwise be tax towards Christian ministries. 

The good news is that as had been promised by the minister of Finance, the tax law was approved as of 2nd January 2007. The not so good news is that although the tax law was approved, the process between the Ministerial declaration and execution at the level of the taxpayer has to go through government paperwork—and that takes time. There are several issues to be resolved first.

First, although many will genuinely give donations to charity and churches, there are others who will try to use this exemption law to defraud the government. KRA wants to ensure it has sealed any loopholes before allowing the new law to operate.

Second, KRA is meant to outline the guidelines governing the implementation of the new law. Discussions have been going on but KRA has not yet come up with a conclusive procedure that will be acceptable to both the taxpayer and the taxman. To its credit, KRA is also seeking to involve the Church and Charitable Organizations in a consultative forum so that the final guidelines will be fair to both.

Third, as we have been in discussion with them KRA officers have made it clear that regular tithes and offerings by individuals are not expected to form part of the donations. They refer to this as a commitment of the church members to the church for the ministries of the church. Because we are committed to doing all things right, we are seeking clarification on what type donations are to be exempt from tax, how those donations are to be documented, and what is expected as proof vis-à-vis donations, tithes and offerings.

We still see this tax exemption law is an opportunity to greatly expand the work of the Lord, so we are doing our best to follow up the issue with KRA. We are hopeful that directions will be outlined soon and will keep you posted on the developments. We urge you to continue giving generously to the Lord, knowing that the Lord who sees what you give will reward you for every shilling you give.

This month’s preaching series – Unspoken: Let's Talk About HIV/AIDS

• For Such A Time As This
  
• Testimonies From A Dark Place
  
• Facing The Facts
  
• Aids, You And I
  Preacher: Pastor Oscar Muriu

Israel Kithiaka who is only 2 weeks old has been very ill and was in ICU   hospital. Please pray for healing and comfort for his mum and dad.

Doris Meoli’s son has been very ill and was undergoing an operation. Please pray for healing. 

As we continue to pray about the Relocation, may we reflect on a text that the Lord has repeatedly used to challenge us about our calling “enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, your descendants will dispossess the nations and settle in their desolate places” (Isaiah 54:2, 3). May we have the faith to respond to the promises of the Lord.

Stretch your tent curtains: The Lord has called us to grow the congregation into a mega church of 20,000 people per Sunday. To grow those numbers we need the space that can accommodate these numbers as well as the attending facilities like the Sunday School blocks, parking, meetings places, class space, a school, special ministries and so on. Pray therefore that the Lord who has given us this vision and who the Land would provide the 30million needed to move where we have all the space we need.
Along this line, pray also about the mega tents that are being fabricated in South Africa that they will arrive and be cleared from customs in good time. Ask the Lord for the finances to pay for them.

Spread: On the property, we will be very close to communities from different residential areas such as Karen, Dagoretti Corner, Kawangware, Riara, Hurlingham, Kilimani and Lavington, Santack, Jamhuri, woodly and Kibera. We will have the awesome opportunity to see the Lord spread our influence across all levels of society to worship together, to fellowship, and to impact one another as a believing community. As you pray about the relocation, let the beauty of this gathering inspire you, and let your prayer be about the people who live in these estates and all the unique challenges that each of them have.
Along this line pray for the actual preparations of the grounds, the structures that will soon be put up, the parking, the drainage.

Strengthen your stakes: Even as we plan to move and grow, the Lord is calling us to strengthen the existing ministries of Pastoral care, discipleship, social justice, small groups, preaching, outreach, and children. Pray that these ministries would continue to run smoothly, that the Lord would give us the finances to run them.
Along this line, pray also for the Pastors, Ministry and Ekklesia leaders, Ushers, Sunday school teachers, prayer counselors and all volunteers that the Lord would keep them refreshed and focused on their calling.

Gift Sunday (prominent ann): Coming up on the 29th of April, next Sunday. Please come prepared to give towards the fundraising of our move to the Promised Land.  Please bring a friend along on gift Sunday. You can also post your donation into the fundraising account Nairobi Chapel NIC-City Center, No. SA2-2280000067. If you have not filled in a card, please pick one at the info desk and fill it in.

Marriage Enrichment Retreat: there is a final chance to sign up and attend the Marriage retreat from Tuesday because there are a few remaining spaces at the hotel. Cost is 25,000. Sign up after service.

Hosting Opportunity: This June we receive an intern from Chapel Hill Bible Church. She will be working with Beacon of Hope. In order to get the full Kenyan experience we would like to host her in our homes for the first 3 months while she acclimatizes and looks for a place of her own. If you are able to host her for the time please leave your contacts at the info table after the service

Sunflower kids: Balozi Productions have done it again! Take your children out after church today to see “The Sunflower, The Spider & The Baby”, produced for the young and young at heart. Cost: Kshs 190 for kids and 240 for adults. Venue is the Kenya National Theatre. Date: Sunday (today) 22nd April, 2007.

Movie: As a fundraising drive, Ridgeway’s Baptist church is showing the movie “Woman Thou Art Loosed” by TD Jakes, Today 22nd of April at the Nairobi Movie Theatre. The movie encourages women from all walks of life to find support and ways of spiritual survival. We encourage all women to go watch it.

Weekly Prayers: The Wednesday prayer meeting has shifted to Tuesdays, at 5:30-6:30 pm. Join with others every Tuesday to pray about our personal lives and the church. Expect the Lord to do something great in your life.   

On Sale After the Service: Sermon DVDs and Sermon CDs and Urbana DVDs and CDs on Sale. The Sermon DVDs will take about 20 minutes after the service to process.

Professional Christian Magazine: From this Sunday, this monthly magazine will be on sale at the info desk at KShs 150 per copy. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with it.  The May publication will have a neat surprise in it!